Rauner Special Collections Finding Aids

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

The Harry Ackerman Collection came to the Dartmouth College Library in 1994 as a gift from Ackerman's widow, actress Elinor Donahue. Harry Ackerman, a Class of 1935 graduate, was one of the most respected and prolific producers in the history of television, having created or co-created and produced a total of 21 television series, seven of which were on the air simultaneously. The Ackerman Papers join those of other distinguished alumni in the entertainment industry to lend richness to the Library's collections.

Born November 17, 1912 in Albany, New York, Harry Ackerman graduated from Dartmouth College in 1935. He immediately found work in radio as a free-lance actor and writer. In 1936, he joined Young and Rubicam in New York City as radio director, rising through the ranks to become Vice President of radio programs. He married Mary Shipp in 1939. In 1948, Ackerman joined CBS as Executive Producer and Vice President of network programming, and moved to Hollywood. During the early 1950's, Ackerman rose to Vice President in charge of television programs at CBS; he helped create I Love Lucy, and Gunsmoke, among other programs. He formed Ticonderoga Productions in 1956, and as an independent producer, created the extremely successful Leave It To Beaver, and Bachelor Father.

Ackerman joined Screen Gems Pictures Corporation in 1958, and remained until 1973 as Vice President in charge of production. Some of his successful programs during those years include The Donna Reed Show, Hazel, The Farmer's Daughter, the enormously popular Bewitched, Gidget, Love On A Rooftop, and The Flying Nun. His first marriage ended in divorce, and in 1961 he married Elinor Donahue.

In 1973, Ackerman became associated with Paramount Television; he moved to Hanna-Barbera in 1975. A year later, he formed his own company, Harry Ackerman Productions, producing and selling programs to the networks. For two years, 1980-1982, he was Vice President in charge of television for Capital Pictures. By 1984, as President of Harry Ackerman Productions, he was producing television movies. One such movie, Gidget's Summer Reunion, was spun off into a series, The New Gidget.

Harry Ackerman was also a civic leader; he was, variously, President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, a Trustee of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, President of the Manuscript Society of Southern California, a Commissioner of the California Civil War Commission, Co-Chairman of the Bicentennial Television Advisory Committee, and Public Affairs Chairman for the Caucus of Producers, Writers and Directors. His hobby was collecting historical documents, especially those associated with the American Revolution and Fort Ticonderoga; he also collected Lincolniana, once buying Lincoln's legal “wallet,” or briefcase, and finding, tucked away in its folds, Lincoln's engraved pocketknife.

Greatly respected in the entertainment industry, Harry Ackerman won two Emmy Awards for his work, and was the first producer ever honored by the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters at their 1974 luncheon. In 1985, a star was dedicated to him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ackerman died in 1991.

The Harry Ackerman Collection occupies 18 boxes, or approximately 22.5 linear feet of shelf space. The materials consist of correspondence, clippings, scripts, articles, reports and proposals, photographs, resumes, pamphlets, prospectuses and presentations for television programs, and many other items. The largest group of papers, the scripts and related materials, is perhaps the most interesting part of the collection. The process of “selling” a show to a producer, who then “sells” it to a studio or network executives, who then “sell” it to the public, is laid out in fascinating detail for the interested researcher. Another aspect of Ackerman's life may be found under Personal Affairs; he corresponded not only with elderly aunts and cousins, but with such notables as cartoonist Ted Key of Hazel fame, mystery writers John Creasey and John D. McDonald, Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty, and old friends Nadea Dragonette Loftus and Bernard Murphy, of radio and Albany school days respectively.

The Dartmouth College Library is not the only repository which houses a Harry Ackerman Collection. The American Haritage Center at the University of Wyoming has had Ackerman materials since the early 1970's; an index is included in this collection. Further information concerning Harry Ackerman may be found in Special Collections in the Dartmouth College Library.